TNT's own irrepressible spirit re-surfaced Wednesday.
The KaTropa weathered the foul trouble on Glen Rice Jr. and a big Ginebra fightback to carve out a 103-96 win and tie up their PBA Governors Cup semi-final series at one game apiece at the Batangas City Coliseum.
Rice sat out 15 playing minutes spanning the two middle quarters but still wound up with 21 points, 10 below his average. But he returned in the fourth period to spark a surge that put TNT safely ahead before returning to the bench for good at the final 4:58 mark after picking up his fifth foul.
Even with Rice off the court the likes of Jayson Castro, Troy Rosario, Roger Pogoy and Kelly Williams mostly carried the fight as they bounced back from a 94-121 beat down in the best-of-five duel's opener only two days before.
Despite the onset of cramps that forced him to sit out the last 3:51 of the game Castro still finished with 20 points and 10 assists with 13 of his points coming in the third period that enabled TNT to stay in front.
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"This game kasi parang do-or-die na sa amin kasi once na matalo pa kami mahirap ng makabawi," was how Castro described the mind-set of TNT coming into the match watched by a big-sized crowd.
"Iyon nga, kaya kahit may nararamdaman kailangan pa ring maglaro," added Castro.
Rosario chipped in 16 points and eight boards, Pogoy 14 and Williams 11 boards to go with seven points.
The big letdown for Ginebra was chiefly brought about by a listless start and its failure to sustain a huge third-quarter run that brought it back from 18 points down and even gave it a brief taste of the lead.
Castro simply would not let his team buckle under as he led an assault that pushed TNT back on top 76-69, heading to the final quarter.
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Pogoy's jumper ensured it for the KaTropa 101-88, only a minute left.
Justin Brownlee led everybody with 25 points on top of 10 rebounds while LA Tenorio, Japeth Aguilar and Sol Mercado had at least 14 points each.
The Kings as a whole, however, were less aggressive as evidenced by the 18 free throws awarded them, 17 less than the KaTropa, and the plus-14 advantage the latter had in fastbreak points. TNT also had more rebounds 52-47.
"Rebounding and defense ang game plan namin and nag-focus din kami sa 50-50 balls kasi last game na-outhustle kami," related Castro.
